Would You Rather Be Able to Read Peoples Minds or Have See-Through Vision?

The question of whether it would be more advantageous to read people's minds or have the ability to see through solid objects is an interesting one. While both have distinct advantages and disadvantages, the ability to see through anything at will might offer more practical benefits. After all, if someone is trying to hide something or deny a piece of information, it would be harder to do so.

Advantages of See-Through Vision

With see-through vision, you can confirm the truth of information presented to you. Mind readers may use their abilities to obfuscate or deny information, but with see-through vision, you can visually confirm the location and reality of objects or people. This makes it easier to give evidence to others, as you can confirm the reliability of the information yourself.

The Dilemma of Mind Reading

While mind reading could provide access to a wealth of information, it also comes with significant ethical and practical concerns. Victims of mind control could be subjected to manipulation based on neural patterns. However, mind reading also allows the mind reader to solve unanswered questions by deciphering the neural pathways of the victim's superior awareness. This could provide a deeper understanding of the human mind and its complex workings.

Consider the expression, 'The Emperor doesn't have any clothes.' This is the story of an Emperor from the 11th century who was tricked into believing his garments were only perceivable by people born in the Holy union of matrimony. What if the Emperor truly believed in his mental reality, for vanity’s sake? Could it be that since we have advanced scientifically over the past hundred years, the Copenhagen Interpretation has shifted our understanding of reality?

Quantum Mechanics and Schr?dinger's Cat

The Copenhagen Interpretation suggests that particles exist in all states at once until observed. Schr?dinger's cat is a thought experiment that illustrates the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics. The cat is subject to a 50/50 chance of being alive or dead, depending on the observation. The key concept here is that observation creates the outcome, and the distance between the observer and the object being observed is critical.

If an observer is located close enough to the cat, the act of observation can be realized instantaneously, aligning the states of the cat and the observer. However, if the distance is such that the observer is light-years away, the observation would have happened before the cat was placed in the box, making the experiment meaningless. This thought experiment connects the passage of time and the realization of outcomes to the speed of light, highlighting the importance of physical boundaries in the realm of quantum mechanics.

Philosophical Implications

From a philosophical standpoint, the relationship between the mind and matter is a topic of great interest. The Emperor's mental reality is subordinate to the physical facts of his existence. The barrier between brain waves and different minds can be seen as similar to the speed of light in physical reality, neither removing nor creating boundaries.[1]

Harnessing the power to read minds or see through the world comes with the responsibility to make judgments. I personally would not choose either, primarily because judgment would force me to take control of someone's mind, which goes against my non-judgmental nature. The speed of light creates a clear boundary between perception and reality, underlining the importance of concrete substance in our understanding of the world.

Ultimately, despite the tantalizing allure of mind reading and see-through vision, the practical and ethical considerations make the latter a more appealing choice. While both abilities have their merits, the ability to see through the world unobstructed by physical boundaries seems to offer a greater degree of truth and understanding.

Note: This is a thought experiment and not an endorsement of either practice.

References

[1] Schr?dinger, Erwin. What Is Life? Cambridge University Press, 1944.